Chavs: A Cultural Community of Britain

1
Chavs A Cultural Community of Britain

• D. A. Lopez
• Department of Sociology
• California State University, Northridge
• USA

2
The Study

• Goal of Research Documentation of the cultural
  community of Chavs in Britain.
• Relevance Does use of symbols of Black hip hop
  culture by Chavs facilitate multiculturalism in
  Britain?
• Method Content analysis of threads and 157
  photographs posted in Chav of the Month (April
  2005) at www.chavscum.co.uk.

3
Chav Symbols
4
Rapper 50 Cent
5
Chavies
6
Chavettes
7
Tribal Chavs
8
Chav Activities
9
Race

• N 289
• White 99.3 (287)
• Black 0.7 (2)

10
Gender

• N 289
• Male 72 (208)
• Female 28 (81)

11
Symbols

• N 202
• Caps 60 (122)
• Hoodies 21 (42)
• Bling 19 (38)

12
Behaviors

• N 65
• Gestures 49 (32)
• Drinking 40 (26)
• Smoking 7 (11)

13
Interpretation 1

• Symbols of hip-hop culture among Chavs allow that
  community an expression of power for a group with
  limited resources and life chances.
• These symbols can be utilized safely without
  contact with the racial group from which they
  emanate.

14
Interpretation 2

• Data suggests Chavs are exclusionary, if not
  intolerant, of out-groups such as Blacks, Goths,
  and Preppies.
• Intolerance may be a function of group
  solidarity, lower educational levels, competition
  over scarce resources, and ego defense.

15
Conclusion

• It does not seem likely that incorporation of
  Black hip-hop culture by Chavs facilitates
  multiculturalism.
• The symbols of hip-hop provide Chavs cultural
  capital (see Bourdieu) which they interconvert
  into status.
• Chavs will proliferate as opportunities diminish.